Automatic hinge recess routing machine for spectacle frames



June 27, 1961 J. D. BOHANNON ETAL 2,989,901

AUTOMATIC HINGE RECESS ROUTING MACHINE FOR SPECTACLE FRAMES Filed NOV. 3, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

PEG. 2

INVENTORS John D. Bohcmnon Leonard Liebowitz Mannie Fi'nkelstein Reuben Weiner- FIG.4

June 27, 1961 J. D. BOHANNON ETAL AUTOMATIC HINGE RECESS ROUTING MACHINE FOR SPECTACLE FRAMES Filed Nov. 5, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS John D. Bohannon Leonard Liebowitz Mannie Finkelstein Reuben Weiner June 1961 J. D. BOHANNON EI'AL 2,989,901

AUTOMATIC HINGE RECESS ROUTING MACHINE FOR SPECTACLE FRAMES Filed Nov. 3. 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS John D. Bohunnon Leonard Liebowitz Mannie Finkelstein Reuben Weiner FINE-3.6

June 27, 1961 J. D. BOHANNON EI'AL 2,989,901

AUTOMATIC HINGE RECESS ROUTING MACHINE FOR SPECTACLE FRAMES Filed Nov. 5, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 7

IN VEN TORS John D. Bohcnnon Leonard Liebowitz Mannie Finkelstein Reuben Weiner June 27, 1961 BOHANNON L 2,989,901

AUTOMATIC HINGE RECESS ROUTING MACHINE FOR SPECTACLE FRAMES Filed NOV. 3, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS John D. Bohonnon Leonard Liebowitz Mclnnie Finkelstein Reuben Weiner June 27, 1961 BQHANNON r 2,989,901

AUTOMAT [C HINGE RECESS ROUTING MACHINE FOR SPECTACLE FRAMES Filed Nov. 3. 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS FIG. 13 John D. Bohclnnon Leonard Liebowitz Mannie Finkelstein Reuben Weiner United States Patent 2,989,901 AUTOMATIC HINGE RECESS ROUTING MACHINE FOR SPECTACIJE FRAMES John D. Bohannon, Miami, Fla.; Mannie Finkelstein,

North Miami, Fla.; Leonard Liebowitz, Miami Beach,

Fla.; and Reuben Weiner, North Miami Beach, Fla.

(all of 98 NE. 74th St., Miami 38, Fla.)

Filed Nov. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 850,610 9 Claims. (Ci. 90-14) This invention relates to routing machines and is directed particularly to an automatic machine for routing elongated recesses such as hinge recesses in spectacle frame blanks, and the like, in quantity production.

In the manufacture of eyeglass or spectacle frames for corrective or sun glasses it is common practice to provide recesses in the frame at each side for locating and seating the bow or temple hinges. Heretofore, this recessing operation Was accomplished by a hand routing operation in a drill press. By the use of such a method a single operator could recess or rout about 1600 frames in a working day.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a routing machine of the character described which will be hopper-fed, fully automatic, and capable of recessing as many as 1800 frames per hour with the attendance of a single operator.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an automatic recess routing machine of the above nature which, in timed sequence, withdraws frame blanks one at a time from a hopper in which they are stacked and positions it for the routing operation, then moves a pair of continuously rotating routers perpendicularly into the frame blank at each side to the depth of recess required, then moves the routers sidewardly in opposite directions to cut elongated recesses of predetermined length, then withdraws the routers, and then discharges the recessed frame through a discharge chute for collection in readiness for the following series of operations required to finish the frames.

Another object is to provide an automatic routing machine of the above nature which is readily adaptable for operating upon eyeglass frame blanks of a Wide variety of shapes and sizes, and which can quickly and easily be preset to efiect various combinations of recess depth, length, position, and direction as may be required to suit the shape and size of a particular frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic routing machine of the above nature wherein the various positioning mechanisms are actuated by air cylinders, sequence controlled by a plurality of rotary cams on a common shaft in combination with individual flow regulators associated with each air cylinder.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automatic routing machine of the character described which will be compact, simple in construction, easy to adjust when changing from one type of frame blank to another, economical in operation, and fool-proof and long, wearing in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an automatic routing machine embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view, similar to FIG. 2, but showing the cam driven air valve control mechanism and its hinged shelf support structure in open position,

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and showing details of the flow control regulator panel box,

FIG. 6 is atop view, with portions broken away, of the automatic routing machine,

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the broken line 77 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the broken line 88 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 8a is vertical detail view taken on the line 8a8a of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows illustrating the adjusting mechanism of the hopper throat member,

FIG. 9 is a partial top view of the machine illustrating details of the router support mechanism allowing adjustment of the angular position or direction of the recesses routed in the frame,

FIG. 10 is a detail view, in vertical cross-section, illustrating a frame clamped in the machine and one of the routers in fully advanced position just prior to its lateral movement in completing the elongated recess,

FIG. 11 illustrates in partial plan view a pair of frame nest sections holding a frame in clamped position and a lateral hinge recess cut in the frame at the completion of a routing operation,

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11, but illustrates an open end recess cut at an angle, as may be required, for example, in another type frame, and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the mechanism actuating cylinders and their air supply and control system.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 in FIGS. 1 2 and 3 designates a rectangular base and housing structure, the framework of which, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7, may be of welded fabrication and constructed of bottom angle iron members 11, 11 and 12, 12 in the form of a rectangle, and top angle iron members 13, 13 and 14, 14 (only one each shown in FIG. 7) fixed in vertically-spaced parallel disposition by tubular corner posts 15. A sheet metal outer wall member 16 is formed and fixed in any convenient manner around the outsides of the corner posts 15 to enclose the housing structure 10. Adjustable leveling feet 17 (FIGS. 1, 2) are secured to the lower ends of the corner posts 15.

Seated upon the horizontal surfaces of the top angle iron members 13, 13 and 14, 14 and secured thereat as by machine screws 18 is a mechanism support chassis 19, in the shape of an inverted, rectangular pan, preferably integrally cast of a strong lightweight metal such as aluminum. The support chassis 19 is formed about its lower peripheral edge with a short outwardly-extending flange 20 and a plurality of outer peripheral bosses or ribs 21 for strengthening purposes.

The top surface of the support chassis 19 is provided with a wide, central, front-to-back rectangular opening 23 defined by opposed, parallel shoulders 24. Seated within the opening 23 and secured as by machine screws 25 against the shoulders 24 is a fiat end-to-end bed plate 26. Secured to the support chassis 19 at each side of the rectangular opening 23 therein and covering marginal portions of the bed plate 26 is a longitudinal Way 28 fixed in place as by machine screws 27. The ways 28 are parallel and are beveled along their facing edges to provide V-grooves 29 for slidably receiving front and back spectacle frame feed carriage members 30, 31, respectively. A cylindrical stop pin 32 is fixed in the bed plate 26 at each side of the machine, said pins extending upwardly through the V-grooves 29 of the ways 28 centrally along their lengths. The inside corners of the carriage feed members 30, 31 are provided with quarter- I circle recesses 33, 33 and 34, 34, respectively, adapted to seat against the stop pins 32 for indexing the innermost, or clamping position of said carriage feed members.

Air cylinder means is provided for periodically moving the carriage feed members 30, 31 from the open position illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6 to the closed position hereinbelow described. To this end there is secured centrally along the front and back of the mechanism support chassis 19 and mounted on brackets 35, 35, 36, 36 and 37, 37, front and back double-acting air cylinders 38 and 39, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the piston rods 40, 41 of the air cylinders 38, 39, respectively, are secured to the outer ends of the carriage feed members 30, 31 through connecting brackets 42, 43 fixed to said carriage feed members as by machine screws 44. The air cylinders 38, 39 are available commercially and may, for example, be obtained from Modernair Corporation, of 400 Preda Street, San Leandro, California, as shown and described on page 3 of their 1956 catalog.

Exchangeably received at the inner ends of the carriage feed members 30, 31 in recesses 45, '46, respectively, are front and back flat nest sections 47, 48 shaped along their facing edges to conform to the marginal configuration of the spectacle frame blanks B upon which they are to operate, and adapted to slidably pick up and carry and clamp at operating position, one at a time of the blanks prearranged in a hopper hereinbelow described. The nest sections 47, 48 are each held in place in their respective carriage feed member by a pair of machine screws 49, whereby they can readily be replaced from time to time to conform to the run of spectacle frame blank to be recessed.

Arranged at a short distance in front of the back carriage member 31 when in Withdrawn position and disposed in vertically-spaced relation above the bed plate 26 is an erect, hollow, rectangular blank feed hopper 50 secured in place by stepped brackets 51, 52 at each side secured upon the lateral ways as by machine screws 53. A central vertical observation and loading slot 54 is provided in the front of the hopper 50. Means is provided to adjust the feed hopper 50 for dependably feeding a wide variety of shapes and sizes of spectacle blanks in stacked relation, to which end upper and lower collars 55, 56 are secured about said hopper carrying adjustable screws 57 the ends of which are journalled in a vertical bridge guide rod 58 within the hopper. Screw lock levers 59, 60 threaded on the screws 57 at the outsides of the collars 55, 56 fix the bridge guide rod 58 in a front-to-back adjusted position for properly guiding the particular blanks being operated upon in gravity feed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, the inner end of the back feed carriage member 31 is formed with a rectangular recess 61 to the depth of the top surface of the back nest section 48 and slightly wider than the width of the hopper 50, to allow sliding of said feed carriage member under the feed hopper 50. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8a, an adjustable throat is provided at the front lower end of the feed hopper 50 to allow for different thicknesses of spectacle blanks to be fed to operating position, said adjustable throat comprising a slotted slide 62 secured in vertically adjusted position to said hopper by machine screws 63.

Means is provided to flatten, if necessary, a spectacle frame blankB as it is laterally pushed from beneath the hopper 50 by the back nest section 48 into operating or recessing position as illustrated by the broken line representation of theblank in FIG. 8 (see also FIG. 10 which shows the carriage feed members 30, 31 in clamping position), T this end, there is fixed against the front of the hopper 50 near the lower end thereof and at each side of the vertical slot 50 therein, as by machine screws 64, a stiif, laterally-projecting leaf spring 65 the .4 g normal or at rest position of which is indicated by the full line representation thereof in FIG. 8.

When in clamped or routing position as illustrated in FIG. 10, the frame blank B will rest for the most part upon a pair of laterally spaced circular work support tables 66, 67 which have up er surfaces flush with the bed plate 26. The work support tables 66, 67 are formed with peripheral shoulders 68, 68 which seat on complementary peripheral shoulders 69, 69 in circular openings 70, 70 in the bed plate 26. The work support tables 66, 67 are each provided with a diametrically-extending elongated recess 71 within which is seated a slot plate 72 replaceably secured therein by flat head machine screws 73. The slots 74 in the slot plates 72 allow upward and then lateral passage of the rotating cylindrical routers, as is hereinbelow more fully described. The work support tables 66, 67, moreover, as is hereinbelow described, are rotatively adjustable in the bed plate 26 for changing the angular position or direction of the recesses cut in the frame blanks in accordance with manufacturing requirements of particular frame blanks being operated upon.

Air cylinder actuated means is provided for vertically clamping a frame blank B immediately upon being positioned and laterally clamped for routing by the feed carriage members 30, 31. To this end, a lateral support bar 75 is secured above the front ends of the work support tables 66, 67 by brackets 76, 76 fixed against the lateral ways 28, 28 as by machine screws 77. Centrally mounted on the support bar 75 as by machine screws 78 is a self-returning single-acting top clamp air cylinder 79 the piston rod 80 of which is substantially in spaced alignment with that point on the bed plate 26 centrally between the work support tables 66, 67. Screwed upon the end of the piston rod is an elongated clamp bar 81 adapted to be moved from its withdrawn or rest position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 8 to the top clamping position against the work-positioned frame blank B as illustrated in the broken line representation thereof in FIG. 8 (see also FIG. 10). As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, Z-shaped guide bars 82, 82 are secured to the lateralvsupport bar 75 at each side of the air cylinder 79 as by machine screws 83 to limit any substantial rotary motion of the clamp bar 81 during operation of the machine. The air cylinder 79 may be, for example, one of those available commercially from Modernair Corporation of 400 Preda Street, San Leandro, California, as listed and illustrated on page 7 of their 1956 catalog, identified as Series 900.

Means is provided for withdrawing the frame blank B forwardly, after it has been operated upon by the routing mechanism acting from below as hereinbelow described, and discharging it through a rectangular chute 84 extending obliquely from the underside of a rectangular opening 85 in the bed plate 26 in front of the work support tables 66, 67 to a discharge port 86 in the front wall of the machine, whence the machined blanks can drop into a catch pan C. To this end, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, the inner end of the feed carriage member 30 has secured thereto at the central position thereof and in a recess 87 therein as by a machine screw 88, a forwardlyprojecting, resilient frame bridge finger 89 having a shallow end hook portion 90 adapted to spring over the bridge of the glasses frame blank to be machined during the clamping action of the carriage members 30, 31 as hereinabove described, and slidingly carry the machined blank forwardly after machining (the machining mechanism being hereinbelow described), upon retraction of the front carriage member 30 upon completion of a cycle of operation, whereupon it will fall through the opening 85 in the bed plate 26 and through the discharge chute 84.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 and considering the hinge recess routing mechanism which operates when the blank to be machined is clamped inposition as hereinabove described, there is fixed to the underside of each work support table 66, 67 as by machine screws 91 and in face-to-face disposition against the underside of the bed plate 26 a substantially rectangular rotary adjustment plate 92. Each rotary adjustment plate 92 is provided with an arcuate slot 93 near its outer end concentric with the center of rotation of its respective work support table. Since the routing mechanism associated with each work support table 66, 67 is the same, only that associated with table 66 will be referred to in the following detailed description, for simplicity.

Extending through the arcuate slot 93 in the adjustment plate 92 is a lever bolt 94 threaded in the bed plate 26 and adapted to secure said adjustment plate and its work support table 66 in a predetermined angular or rotative position in the bed plate 26. As illustrated in FIG. 9 an index line 95 on the bed plate 26 and scale markings 96 on the support table 66 allow predetermined setting of said support table when recesses cut at an angle in one direction or the other from the lateral across the frame blank are required. The scale markings preferably are calibrated in circular degrees, and in the embodiment illustrated, the scale extends degrees in one direction from the lateral routing position to 15 degrees in the other direction from the lateral routing position, which allows for precise adjustment to any angle of recess direction currently being used or likely to be used in the design and manufacture of spectacle frames.

Fixed against the underside of the adjustment plate 92 as by machine screws 97 is a vertical guide plate 98 formed with opposed beveled longitudinal edges 99. A triangular brace block 100 is secured to the adjustment plate 92 as by countersunk machine screws 101, and to the back of the vertical guide plate 98 as by machine screws 102 for strengthening purposes. A vertical carriage plate 103 is disposed in face-to-face relation against the inside of the vertical guide plate 98 and constrained to relatively vertical sliding motion with respect thereto by a pair of elongated vertical ways 104 secured in spaced parallel relation against the outside of vertical marginal portions of the vertical guide plate 98 as by machine screws 105, said ways having beveled inner edge portions 106 in complemental sliding engagement with respect to the beveled longitudinal edges 99 in the guide plate 98.

Secured in spaced horizontal position across the inside of the vertical carriage plate 103 as by machine screws 107 are a pair of elongated horizontal ways 108 having opposed beveled edges 109. Slidingly disposed with the guide channel defined by the inner face of the vertical carriage plate 103 and the beveled edges 109 of the ways 108 is a router motor carriage 110. Fixed against the inside of the motor carriage 110 as by flat-head machine screws 111 is a flexible circular clamp 112 having spaced jaws 113, 114 at one side adjustably connected by a lever screw 115 for tightening an electric router motor 116 in place therein in adjusted vertical position. The electric motor 116 preferably is a high speed motor of about horespower, commercially available from Stanley Electric Tools Division of the Stanley Works, New Britain, Connecticut, as shown on page 4 of their catalog No. 80. As best illustrated in FIG. 9, motor carriage 110 is so arranged and spaced with respect to the slot 74 of the slot plate 72 in the work support table 66, that the recess machining router 117 chucked in the motor 116 at the upper end thereof will be in register with and travel along in the direction of said slot when said motor carriage is laterally moved in the machining of an elongated recess.

Air cylinder means is provided for moving the vertical carriage plate 103 up and down during the sequential operation of the machine hereinbelow described. To this end, a heavy lateral support plate 118 reinforced by a central, edgewise bottom bar '119 welded thereto (only partially shown in FIG. 7) is fixed in side-to-side lateral position within the housing structure 10, centrally and in spaced parallel relation below the mechanism support chassis 19. The ends of the reinforced support plate 118, as illustrated in FIG. 7, are each secured as by machine screws 120 to the lateral face of an angle iron member 121. The other face of the angle iron member 121 is bolted as by machine screws 122 to opposed side bars 123 welded between the corner posts 15 in each side of the rectangular base and housing structure 10.

Secured centrally upon the support plate 118 as by machine screws 124 is a vertical lift air cylinder 125 having a piston rod 126 rotatably-journalled in a central socket 127 in the underside of a yoke member 128. The yoke member 128 is formed with square-ended, upwardlydirected arms which abut fiat against the undersurfaces of L-shaped lateral support members 129 in relatively slidable relation, said lateral support members being fixed at one end with respect to the vertical carriage plates 103 as by machine screws 130 (only one shown in FIG. 8).

The vertical lift air cylinder 125' is single acting, and may be of the same type as the top clamp air cylinder 79 hereinabove described, except for being of enough greater capacity to dependably lift the router motor assemblies in timed sequence through the yoke member 128 as hereinbelow more fully described. The vertical stroke of the router motor 116 is limited in its upper position by the upper end of the vertical carriage plate 103 abutting the inner end of the rotary adjustment plate 92, and in this uppermost position said motor will be clamped at such a vertical position in the clamp 112 that the router 117 will extend upwardly through the slot 74 of the slot plate 72 in the associated work support table and beyond the upper surface thereof by an amount substantially equal to the depth of recess desired in the spectacle frame being machined (see FIG. 10 and also the broken line representation of the router 117 in its uppermost position as indicated at 131 in FIG. 7).

Air cylinder means is provided for moving the router motor carriage 110 in and out horizontally for advancing the router 117 in the hinge recess machining operation and for subsequently returning said carriage in a cycle of machine operation. To this end a double-acting air cylinder 132 is secured in spaced parallel relation above the outer end of the lateral support member 129 through an angle bracket 133 fixed to said lateral support member as by machine screws 134. The piston rod 135 of the air cylinder 132 is threaded at its outer end into a threaded opening in the outer end of the router motor carriage 110 and is fixed in place by a lock nut 136 (see FIG. 7). The air cylinder 132'is available commercially and may, for example, be obtained from Modernair Corporation, of 400 Preda Street, San Leandro, California, as shown and described on page 7 of their 1956 catalog.

Means is also provided to adjustably control the horizontal stroke of the router motor 116 as actuated by the air cylinder 132. To this end, a U-shaped block 137 is slidably mounted upon the lateral support member 129 outwardly of the router motor 116, and is adjustably fixed with respect to said lateral support member by means of a lever screw 138 extending up through a longitudinal slot 139 in said lateral support member. A screw wheel 140 journalled in the outer end wall 148 of the lateral support member 129 and having a screw shaft 141 threadedly engaged in a threaded longitudinal bore 142 in the U-shaped block 137 allows precise lateral adjustment of said block prior to locking by the lever bolt 138. A stroke control rod 143 is threaded in the outer end of the router motor carriage 110 and secured thereat as by lock nut 144. The stroke control rod 143 has a threaded end which extends outwardly freely through bores 1.45, 146 in the opposed end walls 147, 148 of the U-shaped block 137. Fixed on the stroke control rod 143 between the end walls 147, 148 of the U-shaped block 137 as by pin 149, is an inner position limit member 156. A threaded collar 151 threadedly disposed on the stroke control rod 143 outwardly of the inner position limit member 150 serves as an adjustable outer position limit member. One of a plurality of U-shaped spacers 7 152 (only one shown) of diflferent thicknesses depending uponthe length of stroke required, which in turn determines the length of the recess (A and A for example, in FIGSJII and 12, respectively), is clamped between the inner position limit member 150 and the collar 151. It will thus be apparent that the outer surfaces of the inner position limit member 150 and the collar 151, in abutting the inner surfaces of the side walls 147, 148 of the U-shaped block, control stroke length. The absolute inner end position of the router stroke is controlled by the screw wheel 140, since the inner position limit member 150 is fixed to the stroke control rod 143 as hereinabove described. Access to the screw wheels 140 at each side of the machine is had by circular openings 153 in the machine support chassis 19; and access to the horizontal guide member for adjustment as hereinabove described is had by elongated openings 154 at each side in the top surface 22 of said support chassis.

The air supply and control mechanism for actuating the Various machine cylinders described above in timed sequence will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 3, 4, '5 and 13. As'illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the back wall of the base and housing structure is provided with a large rectangular opening against which is hinged along the lower edge a support plate 155 which can be swung downwardly and outwardly into horizontal position limited by chains 156. Slide bolts 157 are provided at the upper or outer corners of the support plate 155 for locking it and the apparatus mounted thereon in retracted position within the base and housing structure 10. Fixed at one side upon the support plate 155 is an electric cam drive motor 158 coupled to the input shaft of a speed reduction gear box 159. The low speed cam shaft 159a of the gear box 159, which operates at about 30 rpm, carries three spaced air valve control cams 160, 161 and 162 along its length, and has its end journalled in a bearing block secured against the support plate 155. The cams 160, 161 control roller cam 4- way air flow control valves 163, 164, respectively, and the cam 162 controls a 3-way air flow control valve 165, said flow control valves being secured against the support plate 155 in cooperative relation with respect to their individual actuating cams. The flow control valves 163, 164, and 165 are available commercially, and may be obtained from Modernair Corporation, referred to above, as shown and described on pages 13 and 14 of their 1956 catalog. Mufflers 166 (FIG. 4) are preferably connected to the exhaust ports of the flow control valves 163, 164 and 165. As illustrated in FIG. 13 (see also FIG. 4) a source of air under pressure (not illustrated) is fed through an air filter 167, an input pressure regulator 168 and an air lubricator 168a, connected in series, whence the air is conducted by flexible hoses, 169, 170 to the inlet ports of the control valves 163, 164, 165. A pressure indicator gauge 171 (FIG. 2) is mounted in the side wall of the base and housing structure 10 and connected as by conduit 172 to the input pressure regulator 168. The muiflers 166, the filter 167, the regulator 168 and the lubricator 168a are stock items available commercially from A. Schraders Son, Division of Scovill Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, of Brooklyn, N.Y., as illustrated in their catalog #50.

One cylinder port of the 4-way flow control valve 163 is connected by air hoses 173 through in pressure regulators 174 to the pistonextend ports of the front and back air cylinders *38, '39 and the other cylinder port of said control valve is connected by 'air hoses 175 through out pressure regulators 176 to the piston retract ports of said air cylinders.

One cylinder port of the 4-way flow control valve 164 is connected by air hoses 177 through in pressure regulators 178 to the piston extend ports of the router motor lateral drive air cylinders 132, and the other cylinder port of said control valve is connected by hoses 179 through out pressure regulators 180 to the piston retract ports of said air cylinders. 7 I

The single cylinder port of the 3-way flow control valve 165 is connected by air hoses 181 to the single ports of the top clamp air cylinder 79 and the vertical lift air cylinder 125 through respective in regulators 182, 183. A quick exhaust relief valve 184 is preferably connected between the regulator 182 and top clamp air cylinder 79 to insure rapid return motion of the clamp bar 81.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, a rectangular opening 185 is cut within the left side wall member 16 of the base and housing structure 16 to provide access to a rectangular regulator valve panel box 185a secured behind said opening. A pair of vertical mounting plates 186 secured within the panel box 185 as by screws 187 support the cylinder air regulators in two rows, as illustrated, for convenient adjustment. An electrical input receptacle 188 and start switch 189 are also mounted in the left side wall of the base and housing structure 16, being connected to energize the electric router motors 116 and the cam drive motor 158 by an electric wiring (not illustrated). A hand operated pressure oiler 190 mounted above the receptacle 188 is preferably provided for lubricating the various slide mechanisms of the machines through small diameter tubing (not illustrated).

Sufficient air pressure is supplied through the input regulator 168 to allow operation of the various air cylinders at about psi. as controlled by the individual piston air pressure regulators.

In operation of the machine, the cams 160, 161 and 162 are of such angular extent, and of such relative angular disposition, that as the cam shaft 159a turns, the flow control valve 163 will first be actuated to move the front and back air cylinders in to laterally clamp a frame blank B in operating position, as described above, the associated regulators being so adjusted that the back nest section 48 reaches in position just prior to the front nest section 47. Immediately upon completion of the horizontal clamping operation, the flow control valve 165 will be actuated to operate the top air clamp cylinder 79 to clamp the frame from above, as hereinabove described, and immediately thereafter the vertical air lift cylinder will be operated to lift the router motors into recesscutting position in the clamped frame. Immediately upon completion of the vertical movement of the router motors 116, which is adjustably limited as hereinabove described, the flow control valve 164 will be actuated to operate the air cylinders 132, whereupon the router motors 116 will be moved inwardly by a distance adjustably limited and angularly controlled as hereinabove described, to effect the lateral cut of the frame blank recesses. At the completion of the lateral routing cut, the flow control valve will be deactuated to withdraw the top clamp air cylinder 79 and the vertical lift air cylinder 1 25, after which the flow control valve 163 will be deactuated to effect withdrawal of the front and back spectacle frame feed members 30, 31 and discharge of the machined frame blank B through the discharge chute 84 as hereinabove described. Finally, the air flow control valve 164 will be deactuated to effect retraction of the air cylinders 132 and withdrawal of the router motors 116 to their rest position, whereupon the machine will have completed a full cycle of operation. Since the speed of operation of thevarious air cylinders is controlled by individual regulators as hereinabove described, inaccuracies in the cam surface shapes can be counteracted by adjustment of the regulators to obtain the precise timing necessary for the proper operation of the machine. V V

While there is illustrated and describedherein one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is presented by Way of example only and not'in a limiting sense, and that various changes and substitution can b e made therein without departing from the invention. The invention,

9 in short, is limited only by the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. In an automatic machine for routing elongated recesses in spectacle frame blanks and the like, the combination comprising, a horizontal bed plate, hopper means for gravity feeding stacked blanks to be recessed flat against said bed plate at one position thereon, work support means in said bed plate spaced from said one position, means to move a blank fed from said hopper from said one position to the position of said work support means, means to laterally clamp said blank in place upon said work support means, means to vertically clamp said blank upon said work support means, means extensible through said work support means to rout a longitudinal recess in the undersurface of said blank when clamped upon said work support means, means to remove said blank from said work support means upon the completion of said routing operation, and air cylinder means for actuating said moving means, said laterally clamping means, said vertically clamping means, said recess routing means and said blank removing means in timed sequence.

2. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said blank moving means comprises a pair of carriage members slidingly mounted on said bed plate, said air cylinder actuating means comprising a pair of air cylinders operative to move said carriage member in opposing reciprocatory motion.

3. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said hopper means comprises an erect, hollow, tubular member secured in spaced relation above said bed plate, one of said carriage members being operative to slide under said tubular member to laterally push the lowermost blank laterally therefrom.

4. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said blank removing means comprises a discharge chute communicating from below with a chute opening in said bed plate, and a resilient finger extending from the other of said carriage members and operative to slidingly hook over the blank being routed when brought into said position of said work support means and carry said blank to said chute opening upon said other carriage member being retracted in its reciprocatory motion.

5. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said laterally clamping means comprises a pair of flat nest sections fixed to the opposed ends of said carria-ge members and having leading edges shaped to conform to the configuration of the blanks to be recessed.

6. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said vertically clamping means comprises a vertically extensible bar controlled by a vertical clamp 'air cylinder, said recess routing means comprising a motor driven router arranged beneath said bed plate and slidably mounted in both horizontal and vertical directions, a vertical lift air cylinder operatively connected to move said motor driven router upwardly, and a lateral control air cylinder for moving said motor driven router horizontally, and wherein said air cylinder means further comprises a source of air under pressure, cam-actuated flow control means for supplying air to each of said air cylinders in timed sequence, and air flow regulators in said flow control means for each of said cylinders for fine individual adjustment of the actuation timing of said cylinders.

I7. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 2 including a second recess routing means arranged for opposed lateral motion with respect to said first routing means for routing a second recess in said blank.

8. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 6 including adjustable means for limiting the sliding motion of said motor driven router in said horizontal and vertical directions.

'9. An automatic routing machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said work support means comprises a rotative table mounted in said bed plate and having an upper surface flush with said bed plate, said rotary table having an elongated slot adapted to pass a cylindrical routing tool forming part of said motor driven router, said rotary table being mounted for adjusted rotary position in said bed plate, and said motor driven router being supported with respect to said rotative table in its horizontal and vertical sliding movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 651,284 Wert June 5, 1900 2,519,437 Carroll Aug. 22, 1950 2,895,354 Hawkinson et a1. July 21, 1959 

